Designed Life Challenge, Day 9

Making Confident Design Choices

Writing prompts:

What is a space you love and what elements specifically? How can you borrow some of those elements and incorporate them into your own work, in a way that suits the project?

Write about a design choice you regret. What can it teach you about decision-making going forward?

What would you do differently if it were impossible to fail?

Vault:

Fundamentals of Floral Design

Making Confident Design Choices: Trusting Instincts & Learning from Experience

Design is about choices: big and small, instinctive and calculated. Each decision shapes not just a space but also the experience it offers. Some choices flow effortlessly, while others are questioned, reconsidered, and sometimes regretted. Today’s challenge explores the decisions we make, the ones we wish we hadn’t, and the possibilities that open up when we design fearlessly.

The Power of First Instincts

When I design, I don’t begin with a mood board or a set color palette. Instead, I start by stripping a space down to its core. I remove unnecessary elements and define where the key volumes will go. I find place for the table, bed, sink, all the essential pieces that create the foundation. Only after that do I begin layering in textures, colors, and details.

Inspiration finds me along the way. I collect patterns, geometric forms, and organic elements, but I rarely chase a single iconic idea. Instead, my process feels like sculpting. I carve, refine, and shape until the space takes on a life of its own. Some ideas come immediately, others on my walk home, but when I follow my instincts, the design always feels right.

One example is a café I designed, where I drew inspiration from the rounded shapes of 1980s interiors. I combined them with a modern, urban café feel, adding shades of blue, an unexpected but striking contrast to natural oak, black, and gray. The result was something truly unique, balancing nostalgia with a contemporary touch.

When Second-Guessing Becomes the Enemy

If there’s one thing that can derail a design, it’s endless revisions. Clients have their own vision, which is natural, but when changes become excessive, especially after a cohesive concept is built, it disrupts the flow. It’s not just about adjusting layouts. It’s about undoing a thought process that was carefully pieced together.

Over the years, I’ve learned that too many revisions don’t just slow things down; they also chip away at confidence and enthusiasm. A design thrives on momentum. Once that’s lost, the process becomes mechanical rather than creative. And while I work to accommodate every client’s needs, I’ve also realized the importance of setting boundaries. A successful project isn’t just one that meets expectations. It’s one that preserves the energy and passion that brought it to life.

Designing Without Fear

What if failure weren’t an option? Would I design differently? Probably, yes.

Design is already a risk. Every project is an idea put to the test, judged by the client, shaped by budget constraints, and refined by practicality. If those limitations didn’t exist, I’d push boundaries even further. I’d experiment with more ambitious concepts, take bolder risks, and create without hesitation.

Lately, I’ve been leaning into that mindset more. I’m allowing myself to trust my instincts, to propose ideas that might seem unconventional, and to remind myself that the best projects often come from that first gut feeling.

Reflection